On the Police Logs 04.17.14

The scammer posing as a PSEG bill collector in calls to several local businesses was turned away by an alert businessman last Thursday. Vincent Balcuns of Balcuns Service Center on Main Street received a call telling him his electric bill was overdue. Mr. Balcuns stated that his account was paid up to date, and called PSEG, which confirmed it was a scam.

A vandal using black spray paint has caused $1,000 worth of damage to the interior of the Coast Guard and Life Saving Station on Atlantic Avenue, which is currently under interior renovation. Police received the report on April 9.

A Samsung Galaxy S3 was stolen from a woman’s jacket pocket as she dined at the Indian Wells Tavern bar on March 23. SallyAnne Assante valued the phone at $450.

East Hampton

A Hewlett-Packard laptop was taken from a room on Three Mile Harbor Road on April 8 while its tenant was at work. Jose Bautista told police the laptop was only a few months old. Police questioned the house’s other tenants, all of whom denied knowing anything about the theft.

East Hampton Village

Police received a report early Sunday evening of someone selling items in the parking lot of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, violating the village code regarding peddlers. Two officers went to the church, where they found “a subject handing out palm crosses to churchgoers. No exchange of money was observed. Negative village code violation.”

An employee of the East Hampton Cinema became concerned on April 7 that there were some unclaimed bags left at the theater. Before police arrived the owner came and took the bags away.

A caller reported seeing a man, carrying two plastic bags, “checking doors on North Main Street.” He was not to be found when an officer arrived.

Montauk

A guest at Gurney’s Inn called police early Saturday afternoon, saying that a silver necklace with yellow and blue diamonds had disappeared from her room while she was at the spa. Alsacia Pacsi put a value of $350 on the necklace. Police, noting that her door had not been forced, interviewed housekeeping and security personnel.

Springs

A Neck Path woman told police on Friday that $4,000 had been stolen from a safe in her room sometime in the previous two weeks.

Sag Harbor

Alan Furst received an unwelcome Internet visitor last Thursday. The author of novels of international intrigue called police to his house, saying that someone had entered his computer and moved items around the screen from a remote location. Earlier that day, he told them, at 2 a.m., he had been awakened when his phone rang once and then disconnected. Mr. Furst “feels somebody may be harassing him because of one of his spy novels,” according to the police log.

A Jermain Avenue house also had an uninvited visitor last week. Franz Waldendorf told police on the evening of April 9 that he was sitting on his couch in the living room when a deer jumped into the room through an open window. Mr. Waldendorf was able to trap the animal in the kitchen and open the kitchen door for it to run out, after which he left the house and called police. When they arrived, the deer was gone but there was extensive damage to the house, including several broken windows.

Police stopped a Suffolk County S-92 bus last Thursday afternoon because its outside “Call 911” sign was flashing. The driver said he had accidentally pushed an alert button.

Sag Harbor businesses have also been targeted by callers posing as PSEG workers. Richard McMahon of the Flying Point Surf Shop called police after receiving a call from an “Anthony,” threatening to shut off his electricity if he did not send almost $500 to him via a Green Dot prepaid card.

Wainscott

A Wainscott woman called police Saturday after a piece of furniture she had purchased on eBay was delivered to her house. Michelle James said she had been promised free shipping for the $1,300 piece, but that the deliveryman presented her with a bill for $357. When she refused to pay, he became angry and she became frightened. An officer spoke with the man, who denied threatening Ms. James but said that he was very upset. He was told that “he needs to work the situation out with the seller, and not get upset with the buyer.”